Pre-Festival Support:

The Social Media Partnership Program

The objective of the ESSENCE® Social Media Partnership was to create a partnership with the local community that would enhance the ESSENCE Festival ™ brand, experience and build an engaged social community. ESSENCE Festival Social Media Partners or “Social Media Ambassadors” were chosen to actively represent the ESSENCE Festival on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, among others. Social Media Ambassadors were defined as individuals who posted frequently and had a strong influence within their respective networks.

Social Media Ambassador Luncheon

The objective of the ESSENCE® Social Media Partnership was to create a partnership with the local community that would enhance the ESSENCE Festival ™ brand, experience and build an engaged social community. ESSENCE Festival Social Media Partners or “Social Media Ambassadors” were chosen to actively represent the ESSENCE Festival on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, among others. Social Media Ambassadors were defined as individuals who posted frequently and had a strong influence within their respective networks.

The Conversation: What Our Ambassadors Were Talking About

According to studies conducted by the Facebook Data Science Team and the humancomputer interaction group at Stanford University’s Computer Science Department, Facebook users manage to reach an average of 35% of friends with each post.

*Facebook was only one of the social media platforms utilized. Ambassadors also posted on Instagram, Twitter and blogs.

Empower U Preview

GMc+Co. worked with the mayor’s office to design the Empower U Preview e-vite, accept RSVPs, coordinate audio-visual logistics and staff the event.

NOLA Media Day – May 28th, 2014

Leading up to the 20th Anniversary of ESSENCE Festival ™, GMc+Co. scheduled and organized four media appearances for Dawnie Walton and Cori Murray.

Festival Support:

The 504 with Sheba Turk “Week of ESSENCE®”

GMc+Co successfully pitched The 504 to dedicate an entire week of programming to the ESSENCE Festival ™. Topics included:

• What goes into planning the 20th Anniversary with Joy Profet.
• Mercedes-Benz Superdome Transformation
• What it takes to produce the Empowerment Experience and Empower U, with Gina Charbonnet
• Flirting tips with Charreah Jackson
• Makeovers with My Black is Beautiful

Other TV Appearances

In addition to The 504’s “Week of ESSENCE,” GMc +Co. successfully pitched ESSENCE interviews to:

• WWL-Morning Show
• Fox 8 Morning Show
• News with a Twist
• WDSU Weekend Morning Show

Mother’s Prayer Vigil

GMc+Co. designed and distributed the prayer vigil e-vite, wrote and distributed the media advisory and arranged on-site interviews.

Closing Press Conference

GMc+Co. wrote the media advisory, pitched media and provided on-site PR support for the closing press conference.